The Greater Yellowlegs 



or foul, these two birds will exaggerate its menace or lie most shamelessly. 



While no longer common, the impression of abundance still persists 

 by reason of the restless, noisy ways of these Tattlers, so that if there 

 be a single bird about a horse-pond, the whole country-side is likely to 

 know of it. The birds frequent not only tide-flats and salt-water marshes, 

 but duck-ponds, upland-pools, and river-bars as well. Sometimes they 

 move uneasily from one part of the pond to another, as though discon- 

 tented with the fare offered; and at all times, with reason or without it, 

 they utter their high, querulous notes, tew tew tew, tew tew tew, — always 

 in groups of three. 



While feeding, the Tattler wades about, knee-deep, snatching its food 

 from the surface of the water, or else thrusting its head below for a quick 

 search along the bottom. Snails and the larvae of insects are among his 

 usual victims, but the bird is quite smart enough to seize tadpoles or 

 minnows. At such times it may be very alert or quite unwary, according 

 to the amount of persecution it has previously endured. By the side of a 

 farmyard pond I once watched a bird which seemed rather to enjoy com- 

 pany, so long as you didn't actually step on him. With immaculate under- 

 garments rolled tightly above each knee (or heel, if you insist on anatomical 

 correctness), he would adventure to wade around you rather than to fly 

 out of your way. At other times, one cannot get within a hundred 

 yards of them. 



During the migrations, the Yellowlegs appear singly as often as in 

 small flocks. The fall movement, which sets in by the middle of August, 

 or even earlier, is a little more leisurely than that of spring, inasmuch as the 

 bird's business is less urgent; and because of the year's increase, they are 

 noticeably more numerous in autumn. A few winter with us, but South 

 America is the normal winter home of the species. In far-off Argentina, 

 the birds are said to linger to some slight extent throughout the year, al- 

 though they do not breed there. In like manner, occasional non-breeding 

 birds have summered in California, but there is no reason to suppose that 

 they ever bred within our borders in historic times, nor, indeed, anywhere 

 short of British Columbia or Washington. 



Mr. Samuel N. Rhoads, in 1892, found them nesting about certain 

 inland lakes in British Columbia as far south as Clinton (Lat. 51 °). "At 

 this season both sexes stand sentinel on the tops of trees in the vicinity of 

 the nest, rarely alighting on the ground during the presence of an intruder. 

 The newly fledged young often follow the example of their parents in 

 this respect. From this position the male keeps up an incessant clamor 

 throughout the day. One series of notes, uttered only during periods of 

 fancied security, is peculiar and unquestionably a love song." 1 



1 Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1893, p. 36. 



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